The New York Jets traded quarterback Zach Wilson and a seventh-round draft pick to the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos announced the trade on Tuesday, confirming multiple reports on Monday.
In exchange, the Jets will receive a sixth-round pick. Will reportedly pay a portion of Wilson’s $5.5 million salary next season.
Wilson joined the Broncos after three unsuccessful seasons in New York. The Jets selected Wilson with the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft in hopes of developing into a coveted franchise quarterback. Instead, his poor play led to him being benched multiple times in his first two seasons before the Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers before the 2023 season.
When Rodgers tore his Achilles on his first drive as New York’s quarterback, Wilson was given the start again. He continued to struggle until he started 11 games in 2023, when the Jets finished with a disappointing 7-10 record and were eliminated from the playoffs. Now he has a new home.
Will Wilson compete for the starting spot in Denver?
Wilson joins a Broncos team in the midst of quarterback turmoil. After two unsuccessful seasons, Denver tried the Russell Wilson experiment this offseason. The Broncos released Wilson in March, a decision that came with an $85 million salary cap charge over the next two seasons. The Broncos will also be without a capable starting quarterback from their roster.
Wilson’s departure moves Jarrett Stidham to the top of Denver’s depth chart. The NFL veteran is in his fourth year, and in his career he has made four starts. He played in 16 games with three teams, completing 59.6 percent of his passes, 7.2 yards per attempt, eight touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Wilson arrives with quite a bit of starting experience. That experience doesn’t inspire confidence that the Broncos are any closer to solving their quarterback woes.
Wilson completed 57 percent of his passes, 6.3 yards per attempt, 185.1 yards per game, 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in 34 career games, including 33 starts. In games in which he started, the Jets went 12-21. He was the weak link on a 2023 team that had top-three defensive and offensive playmakers and was expected to compete for a spot in the AFC East with competent quarterback play.
Rather than make a mid-season move to improve their standings, the Jets used Wilson for most of the season as they finished third in the AFC East and aimed for a playoff berth.
For now, Wilson plans to compete for a starting spot in Denver next season. Practice squad quarterback Ben DiNucci was the only Broncos quarterback other than Stidham under contract before Wilson’s arrival.
For the Broncos, Wilson represents a low-risk acquisition in a late-round draft pick swap. If he doesn’t develop, the Broncos won’t lose much. But Broncos fans hoping to be a competitive team in 2024 are still waiting for the team to make a big move at quarterback.
Thursday’s NFL Draft will be Denver’s best chance to further improve at the position. The Broncos hold the No. 12 pick, but will need to move up in order to land one of the coveted quarterback prospects in the draft.
